Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Birmingham City Council: Insolvency

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the interests of the residents and taxpayers of Birmingham following the recent announcement about that city's bankruptcy.

Lord Evans of Rainow: The Secretary of State, on 5 October 2023, confirmed his final decision to intervene at Birmingham City Council to protect residents and taxpayers in the city. He is satisfied that there is evidence of Best Value failure and that intervention is necessary for Birmingham to secure compliance with the Best Value Duty under the Local Government Act 1999. This follows consideration of representations received on the proposed intervention package which was announced to Parliament on Tuesday 19 September.A team of six commissioners will be led by Max Caller CBE, an experienced local government professional and former commissioner, and will be able to provide advice and challenge the council whilst making decisions directly, if necessary. They will have powers relating to governance, finance and recruitment and bring expertise in local government improvement, finance, HR, equal pay, housing, ICT and commercial projects. They will be joined by Lord John Hutton, a former Defence Secretary and Business Secretary under a previous Government, and former Mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs, as political advisors to support the political leadership as they take the difficult decisions that will be required. Directions have also been issued to the Council requiring them to take specific actions, including the preparation and agreement of an improvement plan within six months and to review all corporate services within twelve months, to ensure that public trust in the Authority is restored. Commissioners and the Directions will be in place for a five-year period subject to any further decisions by the Secretary of State.

Department of Health and Social Care

Health Services: Menopause and Pregnancy

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the General Medical Council concerning its removal of the words "mother" and "women" from its internal guidance for pregnant or menopausal staff; and whether this reflects advice to doctors on how to treat and describe patients.

Lord Markham: No specific discussions have been had. Ministerial meetings are routinely published on GOV.UK.The General Medical Council (GMC) is independent from the Government and its internal guidance is produced for employees of the GMC, not for doctors registered therewith.

Patients: Women

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reviewedall NHS advice to staff as to the language used to describe female patients.

Lord Markham: We have been clear that biological sex matters and it is important to use appropriate language that recognises the separate health and biological needs of men and women.No review has taken place on all advice to National Health Service staff, but we continue to work with NHS bodies to ensure that women are properly represented in communications and guidance.

Patients

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask His Majesty's Government what policy NHSEngland has on literature, posters and other guidance with reference to the recording or description of the sex of patients.

Lord Markham: The Government is clear that biological sex matters and that there are different health needs between the sexes. We have been clear that removing language around biological sex and women has the potential for unintended adverse health consequences. Language used in healthcare settings, whilst being inclusive, should use clear terms that everyone can understand.As set out in Women’s Health Strategy, we are working with National Health Service bodies to ensure that women are properly represented in communications and guidance.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

United Nations: Festivals and Special Occasions

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark United Nations Day on 24 October.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: This year's UN Day marks the 78th anniversary of the birth of the United Nations since the UN Charter came into force in 1945. The UK is proud to have been a strong supporter of the UN since its inception and we remain fully committed both to the UN and to the values it works to uphold. On 24 October, HMG will recognise UN Day through a series of posts across social media and other communications platforms as well as by attending relevant events at the UN in New York.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support or promote the church's peace and reconciliation efforts in South Sudan following the ecumenical visit with Pope Francis in February.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK endorses the messages of the Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Moderator of the Church of Scotland during their historic visit to Juba in February 2023. The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) must stop violence, end corruption, and deliver justice and services for their people. The Minister of State for Development and Africa [Andrew Mitchell] met with the Archbishop of Canterbury in April 2023 to discuss the Church's role in promoting peace and tackling poverty in South Sudan. On Friday 22 September, I met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, alongside the Troika and guarantors of South Sudan's Peace Agreement. Despite a lack of political will from the GoSS, international and regional efforts for peace must be sustained - corruption needs to be tackled and civil society must be empowered.

UNESCO: Membership

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the value to the UK of its membership of UNESCO.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) operates within a broad remit in culture, education, science and communication, and information. Research by the UK National Commission for UNESCO in 2020, a body funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, found that UNESCO projects in the UK, ranging from World Heritage Sites to Creative Cities, generate an estimated £151 million of financial benefit to local communities each year and help bring them together to protect and conserve some of the most important places across the country.The financial value of the UK's UNESCO designations is only one measure. As a normative organisation it sets international standards across education, science, culture, information and communication, including in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

UN General Assembly

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government why the Prime Minister did not lead the UK delegation at the UN General Assembly High Level Week in New York from 19 to 23 September; why he did not attend the Sustainable Development Goals Summit on 18 and 19 September; and what assessment they have made of the implications this has for UK leadership in the UN.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK delegation to the UN General Assembly High Level Week, including the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, was led by the Deputy Prime Minister, accompanied by the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of State for Environment, Minister Stuart, Minister Quince, Minister Mitchell, and myself [Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon]. The UK delegation built on the significant announcements made by the PM at the G20 in New Delhi, demonstrating how UK priorities can be advanced through multilateralism. In recent decades it has not been uncommon for the UK delegation to be led by someone other than the Prime Minister. Between 2001 and 2013, the UK delegation was frequently led by the Deputy Prime Minister (2010, 2013) or Foreign Secretary (2001-4, 2006, 2007).

Libya: Floods

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Libya concerning the recent floods in that country; and what emergency provision they will be providing to them.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is horrified by the scale of flooding in eastern Libya following Storm Daniel and is committed to working with partners to deliver aid in support of the Libyan people. The UK is providing support in response to both the floods in Libya and the earthquake in Morocco, having allocated a package worth up to £10 million. Flights carrying UK-funded aid to Libya have so far delivered relief items including emergency shelter for up to 14,400 people, and over 800 portable solar lanterns. The UK is also providing water filters and hygiene kits that can reduce the threat of disease from contaminated water for up to 10,500 people. The UK is also supporting the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund and Education Cannot Wait programme, both of which have contributed to emergency responses in Libya. I spoke with Chairman of Libya's Presidential Council Mohamed al-Mnefi on 13 September to convey his condolences and the UK's commitment to supporting Libya in the aftermath of this tragedy. I also spoke to UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, to discuss the international response to the crises in Morocco and Libya along with humanitarian coordination.

Morocco: Earthquakes

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Morocco concerning the recent earthquake in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary and I have both spoken to Foreign Minister Bourita following the earthquake on 8 September, and the UK remains in close contact with the Moroccan authorities. With their agreement, the UK deployed a team of 62 search and rescue specialists and a four-person UKMED medical assessment team, who have since withdrawn following the conclusion of their operations in support of Morocco's recovery efforts. The Foreign Secretary and I have also both spoken to the UN's emergency relief coordinator about coordinating support and ensuring a sustained humanitarian response in Morocco.